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Hi all! Hope you've been well. I have a fun new project to share with you that I created with Eileen Hull's new Journal die. Eileen was kind enough to send me a couple die cuts to play with and, after seeing all the cool books people have been making, I couldn't wait to make one of my own.
When I was mulling over what type of book I wanted to do (there are so many possibilities!), I remembered this configurations book I made last year and was like - wow, I bet I could make Eileen's die into a little shadow box book!
The tutorial for my shadow box book will be included in Eileen's upcoming e-book, which will include tons of ideas for using this versatile die. When the book is released, I'll be sure and update the post with all the links so you can get your own. I know it's going to be amazing!
The supplies I used can be found at Sizzix and Simon Says Stamp via the links below.
Thanks so much for stopping by today! Have a great week!


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Most of these images are copyright of the photographer Elisabeth Aarhus. Please do not use for any commercial purposes, and kindly ask her before you publish them any further on the web. Please visit www.mainstreamimages.co.uk or contact firstname.lastname@example.com for further information. Thank you. www.elisabethaarhus.no
Lovely detail. I'm still desperately trying to hang on to summer, but it's not happening here in the UK!
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As part of the restaurant industry's ongoing commitment to food safety, the National Restaurant Association (NRA) will hold its annual National Food Safety Month (NFSM) this September.
This year's campaign will spotlight the increasing importance of food-allergen awareness and build public knowledge for the restaurant and foodservice industry's dedication to all aspects of food-safety education and training.
NFSM will highlight components of NRA's ServSafe Food Safety program, particularly the recently launched ServSafe Allergens online course designed to help front- and back-of-the-house employees better accommodate the growing number of guests with food allergies.
"Food safety and allergen training is a top priority for our nation's nearly one million restaurant and foodservice establishments," says William Weichelt, NRA's ServSafe director. "Food allergens affect more than 15 million Americans nationwide. Food-safety education, especially regarding allergens, is vital to restaurant operators across the country as they continue to provide high-quality dining experiences to over 130 million guests daily. We look forward to highlighting the important strides NRA and our partners are making with food-allergen awareness and training this September."
Food allergies affect more than 15 million Americans. To enhance their safety whenever they dine out, NRA partnered with FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) to create the ServSafe Allergens online course.
SCA, a global hygiene company and makers of the Tork brand of away-from-home paper products, is continuing its commitment to promoting food and is a sponsor of National Food Safety Month. 2013 marks its third year of sponsorship.
"SCA's Tork brand is proud to be a National Food Safety Month sponsor for the third consecutive year," says Suzanne Cohen, marketing director, foodservice, SCA Americas. "As food allergies are on the rise, understanding the precautions required when serving guests with these allergies is critical. We want to make sure our partners in the foodservice industry know how to take the appropriate actions in order to avoid serious allergic reactions."
NRA highlighted the increasing importance of food-allergy training through its video entitled "Avoid Reaction by Taking Action."


text: Mr. Chao has been our Chairman of the Board since July 2004 and became a director in June 2003. From May 1996 to July 2004, he served as our Vice Chairman. Mr. Chao has over 45 years of global experience in the chemical industry. From June 2003 until November 2010, Mr. Chao was the executive chairman of Titan Chemicals Corp. Bhd. Prior to that he served as Titan's Managing Director. He has served as a Special Assistant to the Chairman of China General Plastics Group and worked in various financial, managerial and technical positions at Mattel Incorporated, Developmental Bank of Singapore, Singapore Gulf Plastics Pte. Ltd. and Gulf Oil Corporation. Mr. Chao, along with his brother, Albert Chao, assisted their father, T.T. Chao, in founding Westlake. He is the brother of Albert Y. Chao, father of David T. Chao and Catherine T. Chao, and uncle of John T. Chao and Carolyn C. Sabat. Mr. Chao received his B.S. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from Columbia University.


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A new generation of powerful lasers has recently become operational, like the 400 Terawatt Scarlet laser at The Ohio State University (a Terawatt is equal to one trillion watts). These lasers can drive matter to extreme temperatures and densities, applying pressures well over a billion atmospheres.
There is a worldwide effort to use intense lasers to recreate conditions at the core of gas giant planets or stellar atmospheres in the laboratory where they can be studied. Moreover, intense lasers also can generate beams of electrons, ions, neutrons, x-rays, gamma rays and even positrons that might have properties useful for applications, ranging from medical treatments to testing airplane parts for corrosion.
However, the extreme laser-matter interactions possible with such intense light are beyond any known analytic theory, and numerical simulations are crucial for designing experiments and understanding the resulting data. Douglass Schumacher, Ph.D., associate professor of physics at Ohio State, leads a modeling group that performs simulations of experiments using Scarlet and other powerful lasers around the country.
"The experimental diagnostics in use can provide only an indirect measure of the incredible interactions taking place," said Schumacher. "Our simulations allow us to determine what is going on inside the target, where the temperature can easily exceed one million degrees."
Schumacher's modeling team uses the computational resources of the Ohio Supercomputer Center to perform "particle-in-cell" simulations that break the target into hundreds or thousands of tiny pieces, each modeled using a single processor. The processors communicate with each other, sharing information about particle motion and electric and magnetic fields. This way, the laser interaction and subsequent evolution (and destruction) of the target can be followed with high temporal and spatial resolution.
"We have been able to explain discrepancies between experimental results and other models by running simulations large enough to account for the many ways the laser energy can spread throughout the target," Schumacher said.
His group is studying a number of different problems, including how to create regions of high density and temperature in solid targets using Scarlet. Little is known about matter under these conditions, but it is believed to be important for planetary evolution. His team also is exploring how to turn Scarlet into a proton or x-ray source with properties that are ideal for a range of uses, such as treating cancer.
Project Lead: Douglass Schumacher, The Ohio State University
Research Title: Modeling intense laser plasma interactions driven by next generation short pulse lasers
Funding Source: Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Department of Energy
Website: http://hedp.osu.edu


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Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
Because the 2012 International Building Code requires final inspections and certificates of occupancy, a minimum deposit of $1,500 or 10% of the total of the permit fees whichever is greater and shall be made at the time of the building permit application is submitted. Deposits for final inspection shall be released to the depositor upon successful final inspection and issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
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Snow Loads and the Structural Integrity of your Roof?
As winter progresses and the snow piles up, we start to wonder, how much weight can my roof hold? When should I have the snow removed? The following information is provided to assist individual property owners in making the decision on when or if snow should be removed from a structure. Structures built in Blaine County after 1977, with a building permit, have been designed to meet a site-specific Roof Snow Load. See the chart below for the design requirements by location.
North Fork to Smiley Creek
150 pounds per square foot roof snow load
North of Ketchum to North Fork
125 pounds per square foot roof snow load
West of Ketchum to western end of platted Board's Lower Ranch
110 pounds per square foot roof snow load
West of western end of platted Lower Board Ranch
East of Triumph
North of Bellevue to south of Ketchum
100 pounds per square foot roof snow load
Picabo to south of Bellevue
65 pounds per square foot roof snow load
Carey Valley including south and east of Carey
50 pounds per square foot roof snow load
*Older manufactured homes should have snow removed regularly. *
As a point of reference, Ground Snow Load has been calculated using the current Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) at the Chocolate Gulch SNOTEL site (approx. 11 miles north of Ketchum). Ground snow load is calculated by using the current SWE and multiplying it by 5.2 PSF.
Current Ground Snow Load at Chocolate Gulch SNOTEL site:
Apr. 6, 2023
This chart will be updated after each measurable snow or rain-on-snow event.
Keep in mind that the Roof Snow Load on your home is generally 0-30% less than the Ground Snow Load. If you are concerned with the structural stability of your roof you may want to consider consulting with a professional engineer. Blaine County does not make recommendations on when to remove snow from roofs.
As the winter snowpack increases and piles up on and around your home. Keep an eye on your gas meter, exhaust venting for mechanical equipment and gas fireplaces. These items need to be free of snow to ensure proper function.
And last but not least, look up! Be aware of your surroundings. Snow sliding from roofs can pose a real risk to people and pets, as well as damage to vehicles and other property. Pay attention to how the snow on your roof reacts to new snow, rain-on-snow and rapidly warming temperatures. These events are potential red flags that the stability of the snow on your roof could change.
FEMA Snow Load Safety Guidance brochure.
Feel free to call with any questions. Blaine County Building Services: 208-788-5573.
All projects are subject to a zoning review, even if a building permit is not required and if you are outside your building envelope. These projects include:
Demolition Permits are required. Please contact Building Services to be certain a building permit is or is not required.
No and yes! No, they do not require a building permit, but do require a setback permit obtained through the building department if the agricultural building is located in an agricultural zoning district (A-20, A-40, R-10, and RR-40 in Blaine County) and they meet the definition contained in the Blaine County Building Code: "Agricultural Building": A structure designed and constructed to house farm implements, hay, grain, poultry, livestock or other horticultural products.This structure shall not be a place of human habitation or a place of employment where agricultural products are processed, treated or packaged, nor shall it be a place used by the public." Yes, agricultural buildings do require building permits when not located in the zoning districts listed.
From the time you drop off your completed permit application, the process time is usually four weeks during the heavy building season from March through October. It is a great idea to bring plans in during the slower months of December, January and February so that you can begin your project when you are ready in the spring. Remember, incomplete applications take longer. Additional reviews of changed/incomplete plans can be charged a deferred submittal fee in addition to the regular permit fee. Getting incomplete plans in quickly will not expedite issuance of the permit.
All applications are reviewed by the Land Use staff in-house prior to a structural review by Building staff. If a zoning application is required, then a hearing before the Commission or Hearing Examiner may be required. It is best to check with the Land Use Staff before you begin your building project so that any zoning questions can be addressed well in advance of your application for building permit.
For projects over $200,000 valuation, a $1,500 non-refundable partial payment is required at the time the application is obtained to the Building Services Department. Payment of the balance of fees due and permit fees for all other projects is required at the time of issuance of the building permit. Payment shall be made prior to the commencement of construction.
In the event of cancellation, a fee of 20% of the permit fees will be charged.
Please use the fee schedule (PDF). Be sure to include the local jurisdictional fees at the top. The Blaine County Building Code authorizes the Building Official to make the final valuation determination on all projects.


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Looking for panel beaters in Chadstone?
Just had a car accident and now looking for panel beaters Chadstone? Flagstaff Autobody is a state of the art accident repair center within close proximity to the City Of Melbourne. You can find us on the corner of Arden and Lloyd St at 330 Arden St, Kensington. There is plenty of free off-street parking at our customer reception facilities off Lloyd St. Your car can be assessed by one of our smash repair estimators on the spot while you can relax in our lounge and enjoy a complementary cup of coffee or refreshments.Need hail damage repair in Chadstone?
Have you recently been caught in a hail storm and now need hail damage repair? Flagstaff Autobody's specialised panel beating services also include Paintless Dent Repair (PDR). Our facility offers a unique paintless dent removal inspection tunnel. Using this light tunnel we can inspect the exterior of your vehicle and notice even the slightest imperfections.Replacement vehicle with panel beating services to Chadstone!
To take the problems associated with car accidents away we offer replacement vehicle to our customers. These are unbranded, clean and modern loan cars. Not only are they free but can also be delivered to you when your damaged car is picked up to be fixed. We're all about making it more convenient for you, and that is why we believe we are to best panel beaters in Melbourne! Our state of the art collision repair centre photos will give you a clear look at how well we look after things in our possession. And guess what? That will always reflect on how well a panel beater will look after your car.Free pick up and delivery for customers in Chadstone!
If you were looking for panel beaters Chadstone you may have realised our factory is actually located in Kensington within a few kilometers from the Melbourne CBD. But how relevant is that really as we will come to you and pick up your car and drop off a Replacement vehicle to you. Once your car has been fixed a trusted staff member will deliver the car back to you and pick up the loan car. That is what we call good customer service!Free towing in Chadstone for insurance repair customers!
If you were wondering how far away our accident repair centre is from Chadstone have a look at the map below.Get driving directions from Chadstone to Flagstaff Autobody - VACC Approved Panel Beaters in Melbourne


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A Few Words About Us
The Eloy Chamber of Commerce shall promote cooperation among businesses, trade, professional associations and governmental agencies and encourage growth of new and existing businesses to enhance the image of Eloy. Our members range from mom-and-pop shops and local members to leading industry associations, economic development groups and large corporations. They all share one thing in common, they count on the Chamber to be their voice in Eloy.
Through our efforts in membership, economic development, community leadership and advocacy, we create the environment to help our members prosper and succeed through a proactive working partnership with all levels of government and community organizations to achieve a strong local economy.
The core purpose of the Eloy Chamber of Commerce is to foster, enable, and facilitate the success of Eloy businesses, so our community is financially healthy and all the people living, working, and playing in Eloy will enjoy a quality lifestyle.
General membership meetings are held the first Thursday of the month at noon at local venues-restaurants. Our mixers are held on the third Wednesdays of each month.
For additional information call (520) 466-3411 or email us at firstname.lastname@example.com
Here are just a few of the Benefits of the Chamber Investment: Referrals to your business, Business Cards displayed inside the Chamber lobby, Monthly Mixers and luncheons to promote networking, Regular newsletters, Ribbon cutting, Ground breaking and Grand opening sponsorships. If you are interested in becoming an Eloy Chamber member, please complete the application and join us.
Office Staff:
Angela Meade- Office Manager
Andrew Rodriguez-Executive Director


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Thursday, April 28, 2011
Our Southern FURends are never far from our ♥s
I had the opportunity to live in the South for many years: Texas, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee. A more hospitable and gracious people cannot be found on our planet. Please know that you and your families are close to our ♥s in thought and PURRayer.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
From our ♥s to your ♥s on this Holy Day
Saturday, April 23, 2011
A Vigil for the lost lives of 100 Sled Dogs
Friday, April 22, 2011
♥Love the Earth you're with♥
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
For our friends: past, present and future...
Monday, April 18, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Missouri lawmakers are barbarians...
Missouri Anti-Puppy Mill Law, Prop B, Overhauled By Lawmakers For Being Too Costly
By CHRIS BLANK 04/14/11 06:05 PM ET JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri voters thought they scored a big win against some of the nation's most notorious puppy mills when they approved strict new dog breeding regulations last year. Now state lawmakers are changing the rules.
A state law aimed at cracking down on disreputable breeders and improving animal care has been overhauled by lawmakers who say the voter-approved version is too costly, and punished legitimate dog-breeders who generate an estimated $1 billion annually in the state. Animal advocates complain elected officials are overruling the will of the people and some are prepared to put the issue on the ballot again next year.
Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States, said public confidence is undercut when about 100 lawmakers change a law backed by about 1 million voters.
"The effort in Jefferson City is a piece-by-piece dismantling of every core provision," Pacelle said. "It suggests to me that this is an industry that wants deregulation. They want to do things that they want and to heck with the people who care about dogs or consumers as long as there are enough dogs purchased."
Missouri Rep. Jerry Nolte, who represents part of a county that passed the ballot measure, said he voted for the bill because it will help protect dogs by increasing funding for enforcement.
"What I was trying to do was interpret what the voter intent was, and what they wanted to do was to lessen the suffering of these animals," said Nolte, a Republican. "And I believe that this, on balance, will reduce the suffering of these animals."
A spokesman for Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon said Thursday the bill would get a careful review and declined comment on whether he planned to sign it.
Missouri's law passed last November on the strength of residents from heavily populated Kansas City and St. Louis but failed in rural areas where many dog breeders operate. But swayed by breeders who argued the law would close them down and concerned about possible future regulation for other agricultural industries, a bipartisan group of mostly rural lawmakers voted to change most of the law's provisions. For example, a 50-dog cap is scrapped but breeders would pay more to boost state oversight of the industry.
The Humane Society of Missouri and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals were among the animal advocates who pushed for ballot measure, pointing to emaciated and flea-infested dogs that lived in filthy conditions. Even breeders who followed the rules, proponents said, have been allowed to keep dogs in wire cages not much larger than their bodies and exposed to excess heat and cold.
Advocates say more than a dozen states have approved stiffer dog-breeding laws in recent years, and like Missouri, Oklahoma lawmakers are considering changes to that new law.
Many of Missouri's roughly 1,300 licensed breeders pushed back, warning lawmakers the voter-approved law could shutter the industry by limiting the number of the breeding dogs they can own and forcing costly housing upgrades. They said some requirements also could worsen care, including mandating solid floors in indoor enclosures that could slow the draining of fluids and lead to cold and sick dogs.
Critics of the law contend the industry's worst has tainted public perception and blame many problems on unlicensed breeders.
The voter-approved measure "is just going to put the law-abiding, licensed, legitimate, conscientious, caring breeders out of business, and the only ones remaining will be the illegal people already flying under the radar," said Mindy Patterson with the Missouri Federation of Animal Owners.
Over the past decade, several state audits have criticized Missouri's dog regulation efforts. But the state is working to do better, now employing 12 inspectors, who each on average cover a region with 225 licensees. The governor also has proposed adding $1.1 million to the budget to hire more personnel.
Supporters of the voter-approved law said insufficient regulations remained a problem. Last year, the Better Business Bureau in Missouri reported receiving 352 complaints and reports against dog breeders and sellers over three years – including many about ill dogs.
"It is interesting to hear some of the statements that are made now that somehow this industry has been wronged," said Barbara Schmitz, campaign manager for the measure. "This industry has had a very long time to voluntarily correct the problems that exist. They have not done so. Lawmakers have failed to act, and the voters stepped in."
Numerous Missouri breeders raise dogs on their farms, selling puppies through Internet ads and word-of-mouth, while others sell to pet stores and to brokers that buy dogs nationwide.
One of those breeders, Hubert Lavy, said people who wrote the law don't fully understand the business and shouldn't develop rules to regulate it. Lavy, 68, whose family raises Labrador retrievers, Maltese, Yorkshire terriers and French bulldogs, said dogs – like employees – are most productive when treated well.
Outdoor pens are cleaned daily and connected to a building with heaters at Lavy's Tenderheart Kennels in Silex about 70 miles northwest of St. Louis. Indoor cages connect through a doggy door to an elevated outdoor cage and have a coated mesh pattern that allows waste to drain.
The kennel donates some dogs and sells roughly 200 puppies per year to earn about $20,000, Lavy said. He estimates it would cost $50,000 to comply with the voter-approved law, which would include expanding indoor space and building solid floors. However, he said he's more likely to just go out of business if the voter-backed law stands.
"There is a place for what I do. There (are) people who want what I do, and I just don't think they should be able to take it away," Lavy said.
Pray for the puppies. Pray for their mothers. Pray for their fathers.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
An adoption story: When you fall in l♥ve - color doesn't matter...(Jessie's legacy)
Did you know that large, black, middle-aged dogs are the last ones to be picked by prospective adopters (other than the elderly dogs)? Large, black, middle-aged dogs most often lose their lives, or languish for months, in shelters because they are not fancy or pocket-sized or a puppy.
Do you remember my friend, Cindy? Her best furend, Jessie, completed her Circle of Life at the end of last year. Cindy and I share the belief that 'adoption is the only option' when you're looking for a four-footed family member. A couple of months ago, after a period of deep mourning for Jessie, Cindy set out to find a large, black, older dog to adopt. She was ready for a new walking partner to explore the rivers, lakes and woods of northern Michigan.
With that said, I wish to share with you a blossoming l♥ve story - a happy ending - and - a new beginning that I was invited to share with a good friend.
Do you remember my friend, Cindy? Her best furend, Jessie, completed her Circle of Life at the end of last year. Cindy and I share the belief that 'adoption is the only option' when you're looking for a four-footed family member. A couple of months ago, after a period of deep mourning for Jessie, Cindy set out to find a large, black, older dog to adopt. She was ready for a new walking partner to explore the rivers, lakes and woods of northern Michigan.
Magnet on the rescue group's van |
Misha arrives to meet her new momma (Gaylord, Michigan) |
A little insecurity |
Getting to know you |
I think I'm bein' 'dopted |
Not dog-less, not homeless, anymore |
First walk (St. Ignace, Michigan rest stop) |
Cindy and Misha met each other through Few Steps From Home Animal Rescue in Bay City, Michigan. I was thrilled to be included at such a special time in both of their lives.
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Soda on children's menus could fizz out in New Hampshire
Fewer children will wash down their chicken fingers and fries with soda if a bill limiting beverage choices for restaurant children's meals gets through the New Hampshire Legislature.
The bill would apply to restaurants that serve children's meals that bundle together food and a beverage for one price. Drinks served with such meals would be limited to milk, 100 percent juice or juice combined with water, plain water, or flavored water with no sweeteners. Customers still could purchase soda or other sugary drinks on the side.
One of the bill's sponsors told a House committee Wednesday he realizes opponents will portray it as a move toward a "nanny state." But he took a different view.
"A nanny is a person who cares for, protects and teaches small children, so being a nanny is not necessarily entirely a bad thing," said Democratic Rep. Timothy Horrigan. "If this bill is passed, children will be protected from the unhealthy effects of artificial sweeteners and excessive sugars, and they will learn to develop healthier dietary habits.
The New Hampshire Restaurant and Lodging Association opposes the bill. Mike Somers, the group's president, asked lawmakers to imagine the scene that could ensue when a family orders a meal and is told a child's soda will cost extra.
"This just ends up becoming a PR nightmare for a restaurateur," he said. "We would respectfully ask you to not put this burden on us."
Seven cities in California, the county of Santa Clara, California, and the city of Lafayette, Colorado, all have passed ordinances on healthy default beverages for restaurant children's meals, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Similar statewide legislation is pending in Vermont, Hawaii, Massachusetts and New York.
Restaurants also are slowly moving in that direction, said Hillary Caron, the center's senior nutrition policy associate. In 2013, McDonald's became the first major restaurant company to remove sugary drinks from its children's menu.
At a Friendly's restaurant in Concord — where the beverages offered with children's meals include soda topped with candy — Jim Foley was having dinner with two of his grandchildren Monday. He wasn't a fan of the proposed restrictions.
"Where do we live?" he said, in a nod to New Hampshire's "Live Free or Die" motto. "It should be the parent's choice."
In Manchester, Joe Kelly Lavasseur, a councilmember, said he opposes the bill both as a restaurant owner and father of two boys.
He said he and his wife have debated the relative harm of soda versus juice in terms of tooth decay and decided to allow their children one soda per day.
"I try to limit my own intake of soda, and I don't want my kids drinking soda for every meal, either. But this isn't about a choice for a parent over a child, it's about a choice by the government over the people," he said. "This is what people find crazy about government."
The House committee will at some point vote on whether to recommend the ban. Then the full House would vote on it. Neither of those is scheduled yet.
Vermont's proposal would go a bit further than New Hampshire's in specifying fat content and caloric content of milk and limiting juice servings to 8 oz. A bill in Massachusetts includes those same restrictions, but the law only would apply to chain restaurants.
A bill in Hawaii would make water, milk or juice the default beverage offerings with children's meals, but buyers would be free to request substitutes. New York is considering requiring restaurants that offer toys or other incentives with kids' meals to meet certain nutrition standards, but the bill hasn't been scheduled for a vote and is unlikely to pass.
Associated Press Writer David Klepper in New York contributed to this report.


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Do you know the work of Helen Stephens? She illustrates children's books, and I just have to share these two books I bought, with you. She wrote and illustrated both the books (which is an impressive thing in the world of children's books).
I count myself fortunate to be a friend of Helen's, (and her partner Gerry), who I mentioned before in this post, and that is why I have the special signature and drawing combination Helen did for me, in the front of both my copies. Can you see them in the picture above? Rather wonderful aren't they.
Imagine an iceberg floating past your bedroom window, and hopping on it, you float off and have adventures................... along with penguins.................... How WONDERFUL would that be! I've given you a very abbreviated description of what happens in 'The Night Iceberg', you'll have to read the book to find out the whole story.
And imagine a little dog, who is homeless, and ................... well, after I read it (and you'll be relieved to know there is a happy ending for the doggy), the story stayed with me. It was one of those stories which grabs your emotions and squeezes your heart. You're sad, then you're happy, relieved and joyful. All those things.
And I love the name Fleabag!
On the last page of both books there is a short explanation as to what inspired Helen, along with some of the drawings she did to prepare for each book. This is rather a special touch at the end of each story, I think.
I've always thought that picture books for children, aren't just for children, I've been collecting them for years. Even if the story is aimed at someone a (little!!!) younger than myself, the artwork is something that any age of person can enjoy. I love Helen's artwork, but I also really enjoy her story telling, they're just wonderful tales.
I bought my copies from Amazon UK very reasonably priced, 'Fleabag' here, and 'The Night Iceberg' here.
Helen has a blog called 'oh, I forgot to say' here, and a website here, and if you have the time, I recommend a visit to both.
I don't want to deluge you with links, so I'll say cheerio for now. "Cheerio for now".


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SQL SMS Logging
Video tutorial: | MySQL Server install | |
Video tutorial: | SQL Logging configuration | |
Video tutorial: | SQL Logging testing |
Ozeki NG allows you to maintain a log of every incoming and outgoing SMS in a database. This option can be useful if you want to use SQL queries to produce various reports. SQL logging can be configured with any database server the has an ODBC or OleDb driver. For example you can use MSSQL, Oracle, Access, MySQL, Postgres, etc... to store SMS traffic information.
The SQL logging option allows you to specify the database connection string and the SQL statements used to store the traffic information. The SQL statements are SQL templates that hold keywords that are replaced to the appropriate content, prior to the execution of the SQL command.
To enable SQL logging you should open the Server preferences form from the Edit menu. In the server preferences form click on Databases tab, then select Logging database settings (Figure 1). On this form check the Enable SQL reporting checkbox.
After SQL logging is enabled, you must make sure the database connection string allows you to connect to your database server. To log incoming and outgoing messages, you would use the following connection strings:
More information


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Fabio Palazzi, general manager for Coty Argentina, informed GCI magazine that the company's local Argentine subsidiary is beginning to export aerosol deodorants throughout Latin America. Only the European and Latin American subsidiaries produce deodorants in this format. The company began production at local levels in 2005, and now leads the region in the product category. Adidas will be the primary deodorant brand export. Palazzi also announced that, as of January 2007, Coty's Brazilian branch will operate under the direction of the Argentine subsidiary.
The Calvin Klein brand, which was acquired by Coty in 2005 and is distributed in Argentina by Bright Star Group due to a previous agreement with Unilever, could be under the management of the local subsidiary by December 2007, allowing Coty to reinforce its presence in Argentina. Palazzi noted the return to Argentine consumption levels similar to those prior to the devaluation of local currency in 2001.
Beautyworld in Buenos Aires
Cosmesur Beautyworld Buenos Aires International Hair Styling, Perfume, Cosmetics, Aesthetics and Beauty Fair will celebrate its 14th show in Buenos Aires, September 14–17, 2007. The event will be organized by Indexport Messe Frankfurt (which organizes the show worldwide) for the fourth consecutive year. Floor space has increased 2,000 square meters to 22,000 square meters since the 2005 show. Organizers have created a new visual identity for the show, and expect to host 200 local companies.
New to the show is the Hair & Beauty section, which will feature training and new products aimed at the professional stylist, and training will also be key in the Second International Congress of Applied Aesthetics. The event is supported by the Argentine Chamber of Cosmetic and Perfumery (CAPA).
Idesa Parfums Launches in Latin America
The Spanish company Idesa Parfums plans to launch Pura Esencia and Pura Esencia Man, the two fragrances signed by Spanish pop singer David Bisbal, in Latin America. Idesa hopes the products achieve the same popularity in Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Peru and Chile as recorded in Spain. In Argentina and Peru, the brand will be represented by the Argentine distributor Greta, which finalized the last details of the agreement at the recently held Duty Free Show of The Americas, organized by the International Association of Airport Duty Free Stores and held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Idesa has also signed a worldwide agreement with Spanish musician Alejandro Sanz for the development and marketing of fragrances under his name, to be launched in Spain at the end of 2007. Latin American launches will follow.
HR Goes Five Star
Helena Rubinstein's Live Brilliantly was launched at hotel Palacio Duhau, which offers HR products in its spa. The new line, which is faced globally by Demi Moore, will be represented locally by Argentine actress Andrea Frigerio.
Located on the famous Alvear Avenue, the hotel Palacio Duhau–Park Hyatt Buenos Aires is situated in the city's most exclusive and fashionable downtown residential and shopping district.
Bright Star Adds Ferrari
Bright Star Group announced the addition of a new Ferrari fragrance line to its portfolio. The line includes three fragrances for men—Ferrari Red, Ferrari Black and Ferrari Passion—designed to communicate elegance, prestige and excellence.
Bright Star Group was founded in 1990, and is focused on cosmetics for both men and women. Its Argentine operations launched in January 2005, and are responsible for the distribution of several fragrance lines—including Calvin Klein, Jean Paul Gaultier, Issey Miyake and Lagerfeld. Currently, Bright Star Group employs more than 450 people in the three countries in which it operates: Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. The company states that its largest market is Brazil, where it holds 60% of the market share.
Natura Continues Expansion
As part of its expansion plans for 2007, Brazilian beauty brand Natura launched a portfolio of 300 products in Venezuela. The company already markets 600 products in Brazil—including fragrances, makeup, skin and hair care, deodorants, soaps and shave creams.
Venezuela represents "a country full of investment and growth opportunities" for Natura, according to Anderson Feracini, general manager for Venezuela Natura. Feracini notes that the strategy in the country will go beyond business, because a corporate philosophy that incorporates balance and integration among economic, financial, social and environmental aspects provides the strongest foundation of company growth. "The concepts that envelop our products are agents of social transformation that seek to strengthen a more fair and balanced society that is involved with care for the environment," said Feracini.
Natura began marketing in Chile in 1982, Argentina and Peru in 1994 and Mexico in 2005. The company also has a presence in Bolivia through a distribution agreement established in 1987, and inaugurated, in 2005, the first world store of the brand, Casa Natura, in Paris.
Quiksilver Launches
In September, Inter Parfums will launch fragrances and skin care lines produced under the Quiksilver name, as well as Roxy sun care products, in Uruguay, Peru, Chile and Argentina. The brand will be distributed by Greta, announced the company's general manager, Renato Saphir. The contract between Quiksilver and Inter Parfums runs through December 2017, a step that Bernard Mariette, president of Quiksilver, considers a new step in the diversification of the company.
Greta also began distribution of Van Cleef & Arpels (Inter Parfums) in Uruguay, Peru, Chile and Argentina in January 2007, and launched products from fashion brand Morgan in Uruguay in April.
Kenzo Bets on the Latin Market
In March, Patrick Guedj, creative director of the LVMH Moët Hennessy–Louis Vuitton-owned Kenzo brand, visited Argentina to introduce a marketing effort for the Flower by Kenzo fragrance. The effort is supported by a strong audiovisual campaign, to be broadcast on Latin American television. In the introduction, Guedj showed a making of the film video.
"The Flower by Kenzo film, with actress Shu Qi, is my tenth film for Kenzo perfumes," Guedj told the large crowd of Argentine journalists at Yacht Club Puerto Madero. "Initially, I worked with the creators, the 'noses,' as well as focused on the packaging design and the flasks. There is a harmony in the whole creation."


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The Isle of Man lies just between Ireland and Wales. Let us examine what can be shown about these matters therein.
Boetius, translated by Alfred the Great, had a particularly doubtful story to tell; too similar, alas! to the narratives of early Christian writers. "Cratilinth, the Scottish King, A.D. 277," said he, "was very earnest in the overthrow of Druidism in the Isle of Mon and elsewhere; and upon the occasion of Dioclesian's persecution, when many Christians fled to him for refuge, he gave them the Isle of Man for their residence." He relates that Mannanan Beg "was the establisher and cultivator of religion after the manner of the Egyptians.--He caused great stones to be placed in the form of a circle."
Train, in his History of Man, refers to Mannanan Beg, Mac-y-Leirr, of the first century, having kept the Island
under mist by his necromancy. "If he dreaded an enemy, he would cause one man to seem a hundred, and that by Art Magic." King Finnan, 134 B.C., is said to have first established Druids there. The Archdruid was known as Kion-druaight, or Ard-druaight. Plowden thought the Druids emigrated thither after the slaughter at Mona; others declare Mona to have been an Irish Druidical settlement. Sacheverell refers to Druidical cairns on the tops of hills, which were dedicated to the Sun, and speaks of hymns having what were called cairn tunes. Train says, "So highly were the Manx Druids distinguished for their knowledge of astronomy, astrology, and natural philosophy, that the Kings of Scotland sent their sons to be educated there." He thought that until 1417, "in imitation of the practice of the Druids, the laws of the Island were locked up in the breasts of the Deemsters." The old rude edifices of stone are still called Tinan Druinich, or Druids' houses. McAlpine says that Druid in Manx is Magician.


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This is the second part of my Five Discoveries (or Rediscoveries) of 2011. The Number 2 slot is for a British Symphony that has lain dormant for nearly as long as I have been alive. It is a treasure. And the Number 1 piece is the stunning Piano Quartet No.2 by Charles Villiers Stanford.
Carlo Martelli's Symphony. Op.4 (1955-56)
Apart from a few pieces of 'light' music such as Persiflage and the Jubilee March, I have never heard any significant work by Carlo Martelli. This present Symphony is certainly an eye-opener and is in a totally different league to these more ephemeral pieces – at least from the point of view emotional power, concentration and architecture.
There are four things that need to be said about this excellent Symphony. Firstly, although it may not be the greatest example of the genre from its era, it is a fine, important work that is both challenging and interesting and compares favourably to symphonies by Frankel, Searle and Gardner. Secondly, one needs to bear in mind that the composer was only 19 years old and was still studying at the Royal College of Music. Although there is nothing precocious about this music, it is a superb early work that any composer would and should be immensely proud of. There is much here that is original, in spite of some nods to Shostakovich and other contemporary figures. Thirdly, the quality of the instrumentation shows great skill and imagination – much of the score is unsettling but the use of colour and texture is satisfying. And finally, it is hard to believe that a work which showed such promise has been virtually ignored for over half a century. I know that this has affected many symphonies by British composers from this era, but in Martelli's case it is especially unfortunate as the work was initially widely fêted and was then subsequently forgotten.
Charles Villiers Stanford Piano Quartet No.2 n C minor, Op.133
The top-line comment for the Piano Quartet No. 2 in C minor, Op. 133 is Wow! We have the Stanford (and many other composers) scholar Jeremy Dibble to thank for editing the manuscript of this work and producing a performing edition. It was given its first modern performance at the Corbridge Festival, Northumberland, in August 2010 by the Gould Trio. The liner notes suggest that the work probably only received a single contemporary performance by members of the Wesseley Quartet and the pianist Johanne Stockmarr at the Bechstein Hall (now the Wigmore Hall) on 14 March 1914. It is almost unbelievable that a work which is so manifestly impressive has been unheard for over ninety years.
The work is a product of Stanford's time of political involvement with the anti-Home Rule movement in Ireland and of his support for Edward Carson in Ulster. Although there is not a political programme to this music, the seriousness and depth of the argument can be compared to the great Irish Rhapsody No. 4 with its wide emotional sweep from grandeur and boldness to tenderness. That Rhapsody was prefaced by the following lines: - 'Land of Song!' said the warrior-bard, 'Tho' all the world betrays thee, One sword at least thy rights shall guard, One faithful harp shall praise thee!' and carries the subtitle The Fisherman of Loch Neagh and what he saw.
The Piano Quartet is written in strong contrasting movements. The opening of the work is simply stunning – two contrasting themes present a balance between a restive mood and one of open-hearted generosity, and, rare for this work, warmth. This is one of the finest 'first movements' that I have heard from Stanford's pen. It has been well summed-up by Jeremy Dibble as being a display of 'passionate gravity'.
I find the slow movement deeply moving and often troubling. The liner notes point out that this music moves between 3/8 and 5/8 time creating an unsettling mood. There is much here that nods to Irish music, without an actual folk tune being utilised. However there is nothing pastoral or bucolic about this movement, nor is it in any way heart-easing or encouraging.
The 'scherzo' is to my mind scary. There is much happening in this movement that pushes the emotional content beyond most of what Stanford has previously written. It is not achieved by dissonance but by rhythm and a sense of propulsion that seems almost inhuman. However the trio section does restore the equilibrium a little.
The last movement, an allegro, which as Jeremy Dibble points out, 'exudes an air of confidence' with its large and generously proportioned main theme. This movement is to a certain extent cyclic with references to the slow movement. The most magical part of the work is a reminisce of the opening of the first movement in a moving 'tranquillo' shortly before the coda and the positive conclusion.
Whatever one's political views about the 'Home-Rule' movement and Edward Carson's opposition to it, there is no doubt that it was a time of great stress and worry for all people living in Ireland. It was a period when various private armies began to line up against each other, with tragic result that rolled on into the future. The present Piano Quartet is the Dublin-born Stanford's expression of the fears, doubts and hopes of many Irishmen, most especially Ulstermen. As such, it is supremely successful: to my mind it is a major masterpiece of the chamber music repertoire.


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Since the 1960s, tens of thousands of birds living on the Great Lakes have died during periodic outbreaks of botulism. The outbreaks have only become more common and widespread in recent years, leaving scientists who track the birds puzzled.
Setting out to understand the spiking outbreaks, ecologists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the U.S. Geological Survey turned to citizen scientists. In a USGS program, volunteers tracked bird deaths along Lake Michigan from 2010 to 2013 to discover what conditions lead to large die-offs. The researchers found that warm waters and algae — both of which have become more frequent over the years — tended to precede bird deaths, likely because they promoted the growth of botulism toxin-producing bacteria.
Benjamin Zuckerberg, a professor in the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology at UW-Madison, led the research. His team reports its findings Jan. 9 in the Journal of Applied Ecology. Their work could help improve bird monitoring programs by helping predict when botulism-related deaths are likely to spike.
Birds can contract botulism in much the same way people can: by eating food infected with the toxin-producing bacteria. The toxin leads to paralysis and death — often, in waterfowl, by drowning. To keep track of these deaths, the USGS National Wildlife Health Center created a citizen-science program called AMBLE (Avian Monitoring for Botulism Lakeshore Events) in 2010. Volunteers for the aptly named AMBLE regularly walked beaches in Door County in Wisconsin, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, recording the number of sick and dead birds of different species. Researchers at the center tested a sample of bird carcasses, and the majority tested positive for botulism.
The citizen scientists were indispensable for this research project, says Karine Prince, who is a postdoctoral research associate at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris and is the lead author of the new report. Prince performed the botulism study while a postdoc in the Zuckerberg lab. "With citizen-science programs, we are able to collect a lot of data at multiple spatial and temporal scales, which you can't necessarily do in a university-led research program. It's great that we can have access to this data," says Prince.
Prince used satellite data to measure environmental conditions like temperature, water level and visible algae. When she lined up the environmental factors with records of waterfowl deaths, she found that botulism-related die-offs spiked when waters were warmer and algae growth was high. Many lakes have been warming with a changing climate, and clearer water caused by invasive zebra mussels provides more sunlight for algae to grow in thicker mats. Those conditions create the low-oxygen environments where the botulism toxin-producing bacteria thrive. These changes help explain why bird deaths have increased since the late 1990s.
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The Zuckerberg team also found that die-offs were synchronized within a roughly 40-kilometer (25-mile) radius from one location to another. That kind of spatial coordination could help monitor a wider geographic region with fewer people on the ground — data collected in one area could be applicable to a wide geographic region nearby. Prince also says scientists could watch environmental conditions to forecast when outbreaks are likely, and then send out more monitors to look for birds.
"It's nice to have the citizens involved in this program. And I think citizen scientists are quite interested in learning more about the environment or the species they are monitoring," says Prince. "And I think as scientists it's very important that we share our results and share the output we can get from this program to keep people involved, because their involvement is crucial."
"Without this citizen science program, we wouldn't have been able to show what we've shown," she adds.
Provided by: University of Wisconsin-Madison
More information : Journal of Applied Ecology
Image: Karine Princé studied the causes of waterfowl botulism deaths in Lake Michigan while a postdoctoral researcher at UW-Madison. Credit: Karine Princé


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[Konstantin] had some extra 27C256 EPROMS lying around and decided to use them to animate an 8×8 LED matrix. He's not only using them to store data, but driving the display with them as well. The chip holds 32 kilobytes of data which equates to 4096 frames of animation. A 32 kHz clock circuit works with some ripple counters to scroll through each byte of stored data, turning on the columns while sinking the proper row. Of course current protection is a must so there is a ULN2308A darlington driver and some 2N2907 transistors at work, but you won't find a programmable microcontroller. Neat!
Yep, you read that right. The picture above shows an EPROM chip that requires a UV light source to erase the data.
[Thanks Kopfkopfkopfaffe]


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The murder case against half-Latino neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman was dealt a devastating blow Tuesday, when prosecutors acknowledged that their star witness, the 19-year old former girlfriend of the late Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, lied under oath.
The woman, who also told police she was on the phone with Martin shortly before his death, falsely testified that she was in the hospital on the day of Martin's funeral — perhaps to garner sympathy.
"In fact, she lied," defense attorney Don West said. Prosecutors also acknowledged her lie, but were reportedly vague about whether they would charge the woman with perjury.
The woman's lie demonstrates another hole in the second-degree murder case against Zimmerman.
Zimmerman faces trial for second-degree murder after he shot and killed 17-year old Florida teenager Trayvon Martin in February 2012. Martin was suspended from school at the time of the shooting. Zimmerman claims he acted in self-defense while Martin pummeled him with punches, slammed his head against the pavement, and reached for Zimmerman's gun. Photographs from the night of the shooting showing cuts and gashes on the back of Zimmerman's head seem to corroborate Zimmerman's version of events.
The case gained national attention after well-funded civil-rights activist and MSNBC host Al Sharpton held a rally in Sanford, Florida demanding Zimmerman's arrest. National media outlets also pushed the narrative that Zimmerman was guilty of murder and must be charged. President Obama said in a White House press conference, "If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon."
Zimmerman's trial is set to begin June 10.


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Let's dance and move
To the beautiful waves and summer sun.
We laugh and eat
with family and share the festive fun.
'Tis it's the season to be merry
And the celebrations have just begun.
We head to the beach for sun, sand and sweetness! Captured by the talented Kim from One Acorn Photography, we share beautiful Australian outfits perfect for our festive season.
Photography by Kim One Acorn Photography
Styling by Sammy Chasing_Soph
Model Sophie wears:
Outfit 1 // Rose dress supplied by Peggy
Outfit 2 // Featherdrum Stella dress and Rose gold Saltwater Sandals supplied by Hipkin
Outfit 3 // Evie playsuit and Tulle playskirt by Minouche and headpiece by Nature Crowns


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Survey Methods and Practices
Journals and periodicals: 12-587-X
This publication shows readers how to design and conduct a census or sample survey. It explains basic survey concepts and provides information on how to create efficient and high quality surveys. It is aimed at those involved in planning, conducting or managing a survey and at students of survey design courses.
This book contains the following information:
-how to plan and manage a survey;
-how to formulate the survey objectives and design a questionnaire;
-things to consider when determining a sample design (choosing between a sample or a census, defining the survey population, choosing a survey frame, identifying possible sources of survey error);
-choosing a method of collection (self-enumeration, personal interviews or telephone interviews; computer-assisted versus paper-based questionnaires);
-organizing and conducting data collection operations;
-determining the sample size, allocating the sample across strata and selecting the sample;
-methods of point estimation and variance estimation, and data analysis;
-the use of administrative data, particularly during the design and estimation phases
-how to process the data (which consists of all data handling activities between collection and estimation) and use quality control and quality assurance measures to minimize and control errors during various survey steps; and
-disclosure control and data dissemination.
This publication also includes a case study that illustrates the steps in developing a household survey, using the methods and principles presented in the book. This publication was previously only available in print format and originally published in 2003.
The paper version of this product has been discontinued as of February 2013. It remains available in pdf format.
Titles | Release date | More Information |
Survey Methods and Practices, 2003001 - ARCHIVED | September 27, 2010 | More information |
Related information
Subjects and keywords
- Date modified:


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Picking sensitive products has to be trackable and error-free, especially in the healthcare and cosmetics sectors. The ability to reliably track the batch and serial numbers is essential. SSI SCHAEFER offers customers with these requirements an array of automation solutions that can be easily integrated into existing warehouse environments.
The Schäfer Scan Machines (SSM) product line consists of three solutions for product identification and precise picking of light goods weighing up to1 kilogram:
SSI Order Verifier: for automatically checking and documenting customer orders
Batch Pick 'n' Scan Sorter: for scanning and sorting orders
A-Frame with single-product scanning (scanning machine integrated into the A-Frame): for fully automated product identification and picking
Schäfer Scan Machines utilize intelligent image processing technology. The scanner reads 1D and 2D barcodes from all six sides, identifying and documenting articles at a throughput speed of up to 2 m/s.
Benefits at a glance:
Trackable and error-free picking
Batch and serial number documentation
Easy integration into existing warehouses
Primarily used in the healthcare and cosmetics markets
No elements available.


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Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has confirmed the club are close to sealing a deal to bring in Roger Espinoza from Sporting Kansas City in January.
The 26-year-old Honduras international has long been linked with a move and is set to swap Major League Soccer for the Barclays Premier League when his contract expires at the end of the year. Espinoza is a versatile player who can play in either defence or midfield and he impressed at this summer's Olympics with his performance against Brazil.
"We're working really hard to try to make it happen and we're looking forward to seeing if we can get that one done successfully," Martinez said.
"There are a few steps: there is the work permit, there are certain aspects we need to fulfil in the paperwork but Roger is a player that we've been following for a long, long time.
"We've seen him enjoying his football in the Olympic Games recently with Honduras, and in the World Cup as well he's been an important part of that group of players with (Wigan defender) Maynor Figueroa. He would be a real asset for us.
"But until January 1 we can't do anymore than wait and make sure we prepare ourselves for the steps we've got ahead to make him a Wigan Athletic player."


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by Philip Levine
The alder shudders in the April winds
off the moon. No one is awake and yet
sunlight streams across
the hundred still beds
of the public wards
for children. At ten
do we truly sleep
in a blessed sleep
guarded by angels
and social workers?
Do we dream of gold
found in secret trunks
in familiar rooms?
Do we talk to cats
and dogs? I think not.
I think when I was
ten I was almost
an adult, slightly
less sentimental
than now and better
with figures. No one
could force me to cry,
nothing could convince
me of God's concern
for America
much less the fall of
a sparrow. I spit
into the wind, even
on mornings like this,
the air clear, the sky
utterly silent,
the fresh light flooding
across bed after
bed as though something
were reaching blindly --
for we are blindest
in sunlight -- for hands
to take and eyelids
to caress and bless
before they open
to the alder gone
still and the winds hushed,
before the children
waken separately
into their childhoods.
Last updated May 02, 2015


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Retirement in Lake Chapala, Mexico & Ajijic Real Estate
Welcome to Collins Real Estate
Your comprehensive guide to Retirement in Lake Chapala, Mexico
I'm glad you have taken the time to visit our website. By way of introduction, my name is Kevin Collins...
I have lived in the Ajijic, Lake Chapala, Mexico area since 1994 and if experience counts for anything I have sold more real estate in the Ajijic, Lake Chapala area than anyone over the last 25 years.
My wife and I brought our children up here. They were 10 and 12 when they arrived and to date everyone agrees we made the right move. This is our home.
I left the advertising business in 1993. At the end I was a "head hunter" for creative types. I often say it helped that I was morally bankrupt before getting into the real estate business but the truth is finding people a new job and finding them a new house are similar in that you are playing around with some very heavy personal issues and I take that responsibility seriously.
Rather than a list a bunch of references I would prefer you to contact someone (anyone) in the Ajijic, Lake Chapala area (who have lived here for a few years) and ask them about me and my reputation. Sounds a bit cheeky but I am confident the response will be favorable.
I doubt this is the first website you have visited regarding living in the Ajijic, Lake Chapala, Mexico area ...
but this site is here to fill in any information blanks you might have about retirement, property management, or real estate. Having visited many of the sites myself, I have found a lot of good information intermingled with some things that could be considered (I'm being kind here) misleading.
The tricky part is that there are very few definitive answers to any questions here. Mexico is different. It is not for everyone. If you have never lived any place but the U.S. or Canada you are going to have to adjust your attitude about many things including how to rent a house lakeside, Retiring to Mexico, Lodging in Mexico. This statement would appear to fall under the category of super obvious but even though people hear it, they quite often don't "get it". Patience and a sense of humor help a great deal.
There don't seem to be many people who are wishy-washy about this area. You either think you've found paradise on earth or you leave scratching your head as to what those "Gringos" see in the place. As you walk around and talk to people who live here the response is almost always "we love it here". Keep in mind the people who didn't like it here left ... you won't meet them.
There are several key advantages to living here over other retirement communities:
1. Weather. I won't beat this to death but it's one of the few things they don't "over sell". It really is remarkable. I don't have stats to back this up but I think it's safe to say we enjoy 300 plus days a year between 70 and 85 degrees. Now, if you are just a "snow bird", the beach might have more appeal because the winter temps are cool here by comparison. If you want year round livable temps this place is hard to beat. It does get hotter and dustier after Easter to mid-June but still very few people find the need for an air conditioner. It's the time of year most residents here choose to travel or go "home" for a visit.
2. Location. Half hour to the international airport. One hour to the second largest city in Mexico and all it's amenities. Half a days drive to 8 colonial cities that are all very different and all worth repeat visits. 3 and a half hours to the beach. (Manzanillo)(5 hours to Puerto Vallarta).
3. Other "Gringos". We have a very large ex-pat community. There is no real hard number on how many (difficult to define who lives here and who just comes and goes on a regular basis) but around 6-7,000 depending on the time of year I have seen numbers much higher than that but I can assure you everyone is just guessing.
While we're on the subject, there are some idiots that live here That isn't unusual, no place is idiot free. However, I would say that vast majority of the "Gringo" population are very aware that we are guests in this country and almost everyone tries to put something back into the community. There are many ways to do that. Everyone has their own preferences but I'm proud of things I've seen accomplished here that benefit the Mexican Nationals. They deserve it for putting up with the idiots and being so gracious in the process. I have been to other, more touristy places where you get the sense the locals really don't want you there. I couldn't live like that. This area isn't the least bit attractive to tourists It is something we are all grateful for. Nice place to live, not much of a place to visit.
Bottom line.
Great weather, Excellent location, Extremely nice people.
There is a lot to cover when it comes to making such a dramatic move. It took me 10 years to talk my wife into making the jump so I understand it isn't something one does and hopes for the best. I won't try to address everyone's needs, questions and trepidations all at one time. What I will be doing is posting questions I receive and my answers. The answers will most likely be seen as smart-assed and irreverent but if you look hard enough a truthful answer will be in there somewhere.
So. Let me know how I can help. My commitment to you is to provide an honest, quick response to any question you might have. If I've learned anything in the last 25 years it's that you can't trick people into living here. Sadly, "high pressure sales pitches" don't work. Please don't feel your questions have to be real estate related. Finding a nice place is probably the easiest and most fun part of the process.
I will be adding specific listings to this site. However while we continue to build a listings page, please feel free to browse the MLS page. I know most of the homes there and will be glad to give you my candid opinion on any of them.
Let me prove to you that not all agents are created equal.
Best regards,
Kevin Collins
Broker, Collins Real Estate
Tel: +52 33 1469 5426
Tel: +52 33 2969 2068


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Note: This feature is present in tools revision 16. It is a bit rough regarding setup and we'd love feedback. For a realistic sensor emulation, the emulator uses a connection with an actual Android device running the SdkControllerSensor application. The application monitors changes in the sensors on the device, and transmits them to the emulator. The emulator then injects those changes into the guest system image. This requires Android 4.0, system image revision 2. The SdkControllerSensor application source code is located in $SDK/tools/apps/SdkController/ ADB port forwarding is used for the data transfer between the device and the emulator. Here is how you enable sensor emulation:
Note that port forwarding between the host and the device can be fragile. If you see that sensor events have stopped in the emulator, run the adb forward tcp:1968 tcp:1968 command again. This should restore the connection. |
Recent Changes >


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Poetry Mats ~ 5 different poem of the weeks and activities for November. Teach a poem of the week each week using these versatile differentiated Poetry Mats to build literacy skills and reading fluency. The printable poems and practice activities make the perfect companions for your November (fall, Veteran's Day/Remembrance Day, Thanksgiving) lesson plans!
November's 5 original poems are:
1. Owls
2. Turkey Time
3. I'm a Little Spaceship
4. My Plate
5. Veteran's Day/Remembrance Day (both versions included)
*6. Thanksgiving (added for American teachers - celebrated in November) - will be included in October's set as well.
What is included in Poetry Mats!
There are 4 different mats included for each poem!
#1 - Student reads the poem and completes 4 activities, including answering questions and illustrating the poem.
#2 - Student reads the poem and completes 4 activities, including letterboxes, connecting, and sequencing.
#3 - Student reads the poem and completes 4 activities, including filling in missing words and completing parts.
#4 - Student reads the poem and completes 3 activities, including rewriting the poem and completing a series of tasks.
*Additional pages are provided for Canadian users which include Canadian spelling and content if necessary. Extra pages included with Canadian content, if applicable.
Look at the PREVIEW for a breakdown of what Poetry Mats look like and how they can be used. The video preview shows examples of other Poetry Mats in action.
A Poetry Mats BUNDLE is available at a SPECIAL DISCOUNT you won't want to miss!
Skills covered in Poetry Mats!
5 Reasons Why YOU NEED Poetry Mats!
Interested in learning more about teaching poetry in primary? Join the FREE poetry e-course HERE!
You can view all of months of Poetry Mats HERE!
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Massive US military social media spying archive left wide open in AWS S3 buckets
Dozens of terabytes exposed, your tax dollars at work
File under 'Q', for Incompetence.Three misconfigured AWS S3 buckets have been discovered wide open on the public internet containing "dozens of terabytes" of social media posts and similar pages all scraped from around the world by the US military to identify and profile persons of interest.
The archives were found by UpGuard's veteran security-breach hunter Chris Vickery during a routine scan of open Amazon-hosted data silos, and the trio weren't exactly hidden. The buckets were named centcom-backup, centcom-archive, and pacom-archive.
CENTCOM is the common abbreviation for the US Central Command, which controls army operations in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. PACOM is the name for US Pacific Command, covering the rest of southern Asia, China and Australasia.
Vickery told The Register today he stumbled upon them by accident while running a scan for the word "COM" in publicly accessible S3 buckets. After refining his search, the CENTCOM archive popped up, and at first he thought it was related to Chinese multinational Tencent, but quickly realized it was a US military archive of astounding size.
"For the research I downloaded 400GB of samples but there were many terabytes of data up there," he said. "It's mainly compressed text files that can expand out by a factor of ten so there's dozens and dozens of terabytes out there and that's a conservative estimate."
A scrimmage in a Border Station
A canter down some dark defile
Two thousand pounds of education
Drops to a ten-rupee jezail


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UK Times Magazine October 6th 2018 - Brand New Condition. BTSCover and large interview with portraits with the biggest band in the world. Photo courtesy of the Times Magazine.
$10.00 $11.00
Welwyn Hatfield Times Magazine January 2021 - Brand New Condition Gillian Anderson Cover and in depth interview with photos. Rare and Glossy Issue! We Ship Worldwide!
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UK Times Magazine November 2019 - Good, used condition. Andrew Ridgeley Cover and exclusive large interview on George Michael and more.
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UK Times Magazine June 2018 Brand New Condition Don Johnson Cover story featuring daughter Dakota, Tippi Hedren and more on his family with portraits.


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5-Hour Energy got plenty of TV time Sunday during the final round of the 112th U.S. Open.
Just not exactly in the set of circumstances it might have preferred.
The energy drink — a product of Farmington Hills-based Innovations Ventures LLC — is the chief sponsor of golfer Jim Furyk, who led the Open going into Sunday before a stunning collapse over the final few holes.
Furyk's hat carried the 5-Hour Energy block-letter logo all four days of the tournament, the white letters standing out boldly on the black ballcap even with a fog rolling over the course from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
The hat logo — Forbes described it as "garish" — could be clearly seen as the steady Furyk began an uncharacteristic collapse during Sunday's final round on the brutal Lake Course at San Francisco's Olympic Club, the site of four previous U.S. Opens.
Furyk carded a final-round 74, four over par.
His wildly hooked tee shot at the Par-5 No. 16 ended up somewhere deep in the forest, and it followed by shots into bunkers, over greens and everywhere but the hole.
Furyk, 42, finished in a five-way tie for fourth place, which earned him $276,841. First-time winner Webb Simpson — he was in a Titleist cap — pocketed $1.4 million.
Furyk, a 16-time tournament winner, can console himself with his other winnings: He's in fourth place on the PGA Tour's career money list with $50.7 million, behind only Phil Mickelson ($66.2 million), Vijay Singh ($66.3 million) and Tiger Woods ($97.7 million) in career earnings from tour wins.
Terms of his sponsorship deal with 5-Hour Energy haven't been disclosed (link), other than it's a three-year deal announced in January. Furyk will wear a 5-Hour hat for the duration of the contract and also a branded shirt for 2012. Golfers can have single or multiple sponsors for clothing and equipment items used during tournaments.
His collapse led to a stream of jokes in news stories and online. "5-Hour Energy to come out with new product with Furyk on it: 3 Hour & 46 Minute Energy," CNBC sports reporter Darren Rovell tweeted Sunday.
"Jim Furyk set back the cause of '5-Hour Energy' about 10 years by crumbling down the stretch," a Boston.com blogger wrote.
Such are the risk of sports sponsorships.
The energy drink is the cash cow of Manoj Bhargava, whose Innovations Ventures (which does business as Living Essentials LLC) recorded $1.2 billion in revenue last year (link).
The energy shot also sponsors NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer and his No. 15 car, and a bicycle racing team. It also sponsors the 5-Hour Energy 200 Nationwide Series race at Dover International Speedway.


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Make Ahead
Warm Couscous, Sausage and Chickpea Salad with Cherry Tomato Vinaigrette
- Serves 4-6
Author Notes
This hearty salad I usually make with a simple shallot, lemon and the best extra-virgin olive oil vinaigrette, but since I needed to use cherry tomatoes and didn't want the salad soggy, it was necessary to get rid of some of the tomato juice without losing the flavor. That is why after I strained and discarded the seeds, I reduced the liquid to a flavorful concentrate and then used it as a base for the vinaigrette. To merry all the flavors and concentrate them, I cooked anchovy filets, the sausages, garlic, chickpeas and even the tomato liquid for the vinaigrette, in the same skillet. Such kind of salad could be made with any pasta or grains, sausages can be substitute with mushrooms for a vegetarian version. —Kukla
What You'll Need
- For the couscous salad
• 1 cup Israeli toasted couscous
• 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
• 3 anchovy filets + 3 Lamb sausages such as (Merguez) or Chorizo, casing removed and cut in small pieces
• 1 (15oz) can Chickpeas well rinsed and drained
• 2 teaspoons pure olive oil, for sautéing
• 2 large garlic cloves, smashed and chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley and dill or any herbs of your choice, chopped
• Coarse salt, if needed
- For the Cherry Tomato vinaigrette
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes , ripe, quartered
• Kosher salt to taste
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1medium shallot , minced (about 3 tablespoons)
• 4 teaspoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Ground black pepper to taste
• 4 green onions, chopped (only the bright green part) or chives, for garnish
- Toss tomatoes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and sugar in medium bowl; let stand for 30 minutes. Wrap the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and gently shake to remove seeds and excess liquid.
- Strain tomato liquid through fine strainer into a small bowl, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Set aside until ready to make the vinaigrette.
- In a medium saucepan bring the chicken stock to boil, add couscous, reduce to simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 12 minutes.
- Meanwhile heat oil in a skillet until shimmering, add 3 anchovy filets, finely chopped and cook, stirring, for a couple minutes until they are completely dissolved; add sausage pieces and brown until cooked through and golden brown.
- Using a slotted spoon, remove sausages to the pan with cooked couscous, cover with a lid to keep warm.
- Reduce the heat and in the same skillet quickly sauté garlic until lightly browned, remove with a slotted spoon and add to the pan with couscous and sausages and cover.
- In the same skillet sauté the chickpeas until they are heated through and slightly browned; add them to the other cooked ingredients.
- To make the vinaigrette: Bring tomato liquid and shallots to simmer in the same skillet where all the other ingredients were cooked. Simmer until reduced to about 3 to 4 tablespoons, 6 to 8 minutes.
- Transfer mixture to a small bowl and cool to room temperature. Whisk in lemon juice, oil and pepper to taste until well combined. Taste and season with some more salt if needed.
- Transfer everything to a large mixing bowl, add chopped herbs, cherry tomatoes and the vinaigrette, gently toss to combine.
- Serve warm or room temperature, leave some vinaigrette mixed with tomatoes in case someone likes to add to their plate. Garnish with the green onions or chives.


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Weakening Pakistani Hold In Balochistan
By B. Raman
The Pakistani hold in Balochistan continues to weaken. Despite ruthless suppression by the Pakistan Army headed by Gen.Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), the Baloch freedom fighters are making headway. Their significant success has been not only in ground actions through their guerilla armies against the Pakistani security forces, but also in successfully spreading the ideology of an independent Balochistan amongst the Balochs. Those among the Balochs as well as the non-Balochs, who try to speak for the State of Pakistan, find themselves increasingly isolated. The Pakistani flag is disappearing from Government buildings in Quetta, the Baloch capital.
2.The Baloch freedom struggle has become as much an ideological struggle as a militant struggle, as much a struggle for achieving the Balochs' unfinished agenda of the Partition through ideological emancipation as a struggle for economic emancipation from the post-Partition Punjabi domination of their economy and natural resources, as much a struggle for their ethnic pride as it is for their national, inter-tribal solidarity.
3.The State is being increasingly administered not from Quetta, but from Karachi or Dubai. The members of the Baloch State Government are being increasingly seen by the people as quislings of Islamabad and are afraid of staying in Quetta. They spend more time in Karachi or Dubai than in Quetta. Government files go to them for orders there. Even if they pass orders on the files in Karachi or Dubai, the bureaucrats, who have stayed behind in Quetta, are not able to have them implemented. The police and the Army are not able to protect the life and property of the non-Baloch ruling and business class, who are increasingly targeted by the freedom-fighters.
4.Balochistan's economy is in a shambles. So is Pakistan's economy which cannot improve without the flow of gas from Balochistan. The gas supply from the existing wells to the industries of Punjab is subject to frequent disruptions. The industrial production has been coming down. So is agricultural production due to the shortage of oil for running agricultural machinery. The Pakistan economy cannot improve without peace and stability in Balochistan. There cannot be peace and stability in Balochistan unless the aspirations of the people are met by the Government.
5.Pakistan has become a land of serious shortages—-shortage of water for agricultural and drinking purposes, shortage of electricity and gas for private and industrial consumers, shortage of money for development. However, there is no shortage of US dollars. The misuse of the enhanced economic assistance from the US under the Kerry-Lugar Act is resulting in a situation where much of the money is misutilised for non-development purposes or for feeding corruption.
6.Pakistan's hopes of profiting from the war in Afghanistan and regaining its influence in that country will prove to be a chimera without peace and stability in Balochistan. That peace and stability is nowhere in sight. The dramatic situation in Balochistan, where the freedom struggle is forging ahead relentlessly, has been brought out in a statement made by Mr.Rehman Malick, Pakistan's Interior Minister, in the Senate, the upper House of Parliament, on July 27,2010, and in a series of articles carried by the " Dawn" and "News". Relevant extracts are given below:
Settlers are being killed in Balochistan.So far over 100,000 people have migrated from the province. Militants are burning Pakistani flags. They do not allow the hoisting of the Pakistani flag nor the national anthem to be recited in educational institutions while pro-Pakistan elements are falling victim to targeted killing. From January to July 13 this year, 252 settlers including 13 officers of the Pakistan Army, 21 officers of the Frontier Corps, 27 Police officials, 26 Punjabis, 21 Pashtoons, 12 Sindhis and 112 from other parts of the country have died in targeted killings. "Balochistan is part of Pakistan, then why are settlers being killed there?" he asked. "Why those who are killing patriotic Pakistanis and burning national flag are not condemned?"
More than the proliferation of radical groups, however, what worries observers is the widening scope of targets. Attacks on security forces, state installations and government offices are all standard fare in Baloch insurgencies. In addition, killings of 'settlers' (groups considered non-Baloch because they trace their ancestry to outside the province, even though in many instances they have been residing in Balochistan for generations) have occurred in the past. This time, however, it is the breadth and intensity of such killings that is alarming. A senior journalist in Quetta claimed: "The target killings started in 2003, but they were sectarian in nature. The radical groups started their killings post-Bugti, initially in Quetta. Now, though, it has spread. Nushki, Khuzdar, Mastung, Gwadar, Turbat, Kech, the target killings are happening everywhere." According to the Balochistan Government's most recent figures, more than 125 people have been killed and nearly 200 injured in the last 18 months alone in settler-related violence. Another worrying trend this year: the killing of fellow Baloch by the insurgent groups. The victims have been accused of spying and working as agents of the Pakistani state. A senior journalist said, "Even Pathans have been killed, and businessmen too. The impact is enormous. There is an exodus of teachers, doctors, businessmen."
A handful of groups dominate the insurgency, of which the Balochistan Liberation Army is perhaps the most well-known. The BLA appeared in its present incarnation soon after the arrest of Khair Bakhsh Marri in January 2000. The powerful Marri chief was accused of having a hand in the murder of a Balochistan High Court judge. Originally a rural phenomenon and limiting its operations to Dera Bugti and Kohlu, the BLA is believed to have expanded its attacks into the cities following the breakdown of a unilateral ceasefire declared in September 2008. An affiliate of the BLA is the Balochistan Liberation United Front, a smaller organisation thought to be 'more sophisticated' and considerably more hard-line. The other high-profile radical group is the Baloch Republican Army, the militant wing of the Balochistan Republican Party, a rechristened arm of Akbar Bugti's Jamhoori Watan Party. The BRA came into existence after Bugti's death in August 2006 and is believed to be controlled by his grandson, Brahmdagh. Its area of operations appears to be in relatively remote areas such as Dera Bugti, Jaffarabad and Naseerabad. A third major group is the Balochistan Liberation Front, another name resurrected from the last insurgency in the 1970s. The present-day version operates mostly in the Mekran area and is also linked to Khair Bakhsh Marri. Recently, a new organisation called the Baloch Armed Defence Organisation (Baloch Musallah Defai Tanzeem) has come up. It is a relatively new 'anti-Baloch-nationalist' group about which little is known, though the Balochs claim it is a front for the intelligence agencies. That is denied by the army. Asma Jahangir, former chairperson of the HRCP (Human Rights Commission of Pakistan), however, is not convinced: "The cleansing of the Baloch intelligentsia can only be the work of the agencies."
Why is the cycle of violence still continuing in Balochistan? While the violence is down from the 2005-2008 peak period, the Pakistani state and parts of the Baloch population are undeniably still locked in conflict. In a series of conversations with Dawn, senior government and army officials and Baloch representatives attempted to explain why, in their view, a conflict that has claimed between 500 and 1,500 lives since 2001 continues today. Foremost is the issue of missing persons. Estimates vary wildly: the Baloch claim thousands of fellow citizens are missing; rights groups like the HRCP ( Human Rights Commission of Pakistan) suggest a figure in the low hundreds; the army acknowledges no more than a few dozen missing. Yet, it isn't necessarily the detentions per se but the lack of information about the detainees that makes the missing-persons issue so incendiary. A senior federal minister involved in discussions concerning Balochistan concurred: "We weren't even asking to set them free. But they (the army) weren't willing to listen because they considered them (the missing persons) to be treasonous. We said, they may have done things they need to be punished for, but they are still Pakistanis and we have to treat them as such." Part of the problem is that the army does not understand the impact of missing persons. "Balochistan is a backward society. If you pick up a boy from a village, you make an enemy of the entire village." The depth of anger over the missing persons can be gauged from the fact that it has dislodged as the central issue the decades-old grievance of the Balochs that the province's gas and mineral riches have been exploited by the Pakistani state. No one, not even army officers, denies that reality. Referring to the disparity in the gas price offered to Balochistan and the other provinces, Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Naveed Qamar explained: "There was definitely an anomaly in pricing. " However, Mr Qamar disputes the notion the centre is still exploiting Balochistan's resources: "Over the last 18 months, significant change has come about. We've fixed the gas-price anomaly to a large extent. Rikodiq (where large reserves of gold and copper are reported to exist) has been handed over to the provincial government and Saindak will be soon." Even so, perceptions about the intentions of the army and 'centrist' bureaucrats in Islamabad linger. "It's about greed. They want Balochistan's resources to create prosperity in the other provinces," claimed Syeda Abida Hussain, co-founder with her husband, Fakhar Imam, of the Friends of Baloch and Balochistan. "It's no longer about the resource-sharing at present. It's about the potential," Naveed Qamar suggested. "Balochistan contributes 17 or 18 per cent of gas today to Pakistan's needs, but the vast resources that are still untapped because of the security situation, that is the real prize." The Balochs look no further for modern-day proof of the Pakistani state's intention to 'colonise' Balochistan than the port at Gwadar. "There are these beautiful, paved boulevards in the port area. And right outside the poverty of the Balochs is shocking," said Sanaullah Baloch, a former BNP-M senator. "Gwadar has nothing to do with concern for the Balochs." If the Balochs, army and government do agree on one thing, it is that a great deal of the blame for the violence continuing must be shouldered by the Balochistan government. The provincial government is widely perceived to be epically corrupt and monumentally inefficient. That has real consequences. For one, it allows the army to deflect attention from the heavy-handedness of the Frontier Corps, which is still tasked with law and order duties. Practically speaking, it becomes difficult to debate the withdrawal of the FC, a major demand of the Balochs, when the police are incapable of establishing even a modicum of law and order. The provincial government's incompetence also impacts on the possibility of winning over disaffected Balochs. "They've got all this extra money," Naveed Qamar said referring to the Rs12 billion of new resources-related payments to the province, "but will it make its way to the people? That's a big question mark." Another commonality among the Balochs, government officials and army officers spoken to: none were optimistic the violence will abate soon. In fact, many suggested the two extremes appear to be digging in their heels. On the Baloch side, the armed radicals are bent on intimidating, perhaps even eliminating, moderate voices, making the possibility of a compromise with the state that much more distant. On the army's side, while it fiercely denies it has a 'colonial' approach towards Balochistan, there is a steely resolve to prevent any 'mischief' by outside powers in the province — an approach which severely diminishes the possibility of concessions towards the Baloch extremists. "If the federation is to survive, the moderates need to be heard," according to Raza Rabbani. The trouble is, no one seems to believe that is an imminent possibility.
Anybody who has not been to Quetta for some time will be aghast to see the ghost town that it has become. Half of the once-bustling and lively town goes to sleep as soon as the sun sets. The other half trembles even to the sound of a cracker while locked inside their overly guarded houses. The British garrison city that was known for its cultural diversity and for its laidback evenings stands divided into quarters based on ethnicity and religion. And, more important, whether you are a "uniformed person" or not. A quarter of the city is a no-go-area worse than Karachi's killing alleys in the 1990s. A non-Baloch would not venture into areas around Saryab Road and Arbab Karam Road even during daytime. The localities of Spiny Road and Smungli Road are no less dangerous as the marauding gangs of armed youth are found witch-hunting for anybody wearing trousers or matching the profile of a "non-local." Local police enter the localities at considerable risk. Even the paramilitary Frontier Corps pickets get attacked occasionally. The picket leading to Bolan Medical College, meaningfully named as "Golimaar," has been targeted more than once by grenade attacks. In suburbs, 16 kilometres off Quetta city on the western bypass, the Hazar Ganj bus stand was ambushed by rockets. The situation on the east side is equally scary. Life in the Quetta Cantonment is stable, thanks to the 24-hour armed-to-the-teeth vigilance. But the ordinary citizenry has been left to the butchery of a lethal mix of extremist nationalists, political separatists, religious fanatics, smugglers, drug dealers and the land mafia hand in glove with criminals, not to forget international terrorists and foreign intelligence agencies. The locals are shifting to the relatively safer Pashtun localities of, say, Nawankali and Sraghurdhi. The so-called Punjabi settlers, who may have lived in Quetta for generations, are being forced to leave for other provinces, sometime after selling their assets for pennies. "The country seems to have given up on Balochistan," says social activist Dr Faiz Rehman. He believes doctors are being discouraged to attend clinics in trouble areas so that such incidents do not get reported.
Dr Yousaf Nasir, a top surgeon who was a cousin of former federal Minister Yaqoob Nasir, was ambushed in a target killing. Another senior surgeon Chiragh Hassan is also receiving threats to move out. "Everybody wants to get out of here," he added. Security officials are on top of the hit lists. Around 1,600 government officials have applied for long leave and for transfer to other provinces. Under such trying times, one hardly finds a notable politician in Quetta or even in Balochistan. While half of the province is inundated because of floods, killing scores of people, Chief Minister Aslam Raisani is languishing in Dubai. His staff said he was in Dubai for many days and they could not confirm when he would return. In any case, he is known to be a part-time CM as he lives in Dubai or Islamabad nearly 15 days a month and is never available, intelligibly that is, after 8:00pm come crash floods or cyclone. In the meantime, on average two persons die every day in target killings. The official figure for target killings in the last 10 months is 370 but others say the actual number should be around 600.


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The new exo-planet is actually in a triple star system, called the Alpha Centauri system. This means three stars are orbiting each other. Just imagine how the sky must look on this alien world!
Astronomers have found a planet the size of Earth just outside of our Solar System, orbiting around our nearest star! For a long time astronomers have talked about the possibility of planets around this star, called Alpha Centauri. It's very similar to our own sun, and the closest possible place for life beyond the Solar System. But years of searching revealed nothing. Until now.
More than 800 planets have now been found outside our Solar System, we call them 'exo-planets'. Exo-planets are very difficult to spot, since their dim light is easily drowned out by their star. Just imagine trying to catch sight of a tiny firefly shining in front of a car's highlights! Because they cannot be seen directly through a telescope, astronomers have to be creative in how they find them.
One clever trick is to watch carefully to see if a star wobbles because of the pull of an exo-planet's gravity. To learn more about this technique, read "Wobble Watching to Find New Worlds". This is the most successful method yet and it's how most exo-planets have been found, including our new Earth-sized neighbour.
While the newly discovered exo-planet is similar to the Earth in size, it is much closer to its star than our planet. In fact, it's even closer than Mercury, the planet closest to our Sun. A year on the exo-planet would be just three days long (this is how long it takes the planet to complete one orbit of its star). On Earth it's a little over 365 days!
Being so close to its star, the planet would be ultra hot; much too hot for life as we know it to exist. But finding an Earth-sized planet so close to our Solar System is still an exciting discovery and takes us one step forward on the road to finding alien life!
The new exo-planet is actually in a triple star system, called the Alpha Centauri system. This means three stars are orbiting each other. Just imagine how the sky must look on this alien world!